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Waterfalls

Kalandula Falls
Kalandula Falls. / L.Willms, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

WorldBlue Described waterfalls

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WorldYellow What is included in this category?

Some of the most fascinating and awe inspiring natural monuments are waterfalls, or locations where a river abruptly changes its elevation.

Origins

Waterfalls and rapids or sections of rivers with steep beds have diverse origins.

Self-shaped falls

Many waterfalls, including the most powerful waterfalls of the world, are shaped by the stream itself. The power of the flowing water at a fault line or trench gradually erodes the riverbed. Slowly, year by year it is carved deeper. As the threshold of the plunge recedes, it leaves behind a ravine. If the conditions are right, the waterfall will, over time, become higher and higher.

American Falls with rainbow, Niagara
American Falls with rainbow, Niagara / Jeff Stevens, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Beautiful examples of such waterfalls are Victoria Falls (Zambia and Zimbabwe), Iguazu Falls (Argentina and Brazil), Niagara Falls (straddling the border between Canada and the United States).

Mountain falls

The highest waterfalls in the world fall down along natural slopes, which are either shaped by tectonic processes or, for example by glaciers but not by the stream itself.

Kjosfossen in Norway
Kjosfossen in Norway / stigmj, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0

In many cases the slope is more or less oblique, i.e. not vertical or overhanging. Then the water is pouring down along the cliff. If such falls (rather, flows) are consequently measured, the Himalayas or the Andes could easily have the highest waterfalls in the world. But in general, such steep flows are not considered to be true waterfalls. When the most impressive oblique falls with larger and smaller plunges in between, are measured, they often belong to the highest falls in the world.

Many of the most impressive waterfalls of the world are located in glacier-shaped mountains, especially at the ends of hanging valleys: such waterfalls are located in Norway, the Alps, British Columbia (Canada), New Zealand, and elsewhere. Such waterfalls often have very high plunges or uninterrupted falls of water. For example, the tallest plunge of Yosemite Falls (California, United States) is 436 meters tall.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Multnomah Falls / Chris Miller, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

In the Guiana Highlands (South America) there are outstanding natural formations, the tepuis or table-top mountains, with extremely high abrupt sides. Here one can find the highest waterfall in the world the Angel Falls (Venezuela) which are 979 meters high. A major part of its height, 807 meters, constitutes one fantastic drop. In this area, there are several more of the highest free-falling falls in the world, such as Roraima Falls (610 m) and Kukenaam Falls (674 m), both of which are in Venezuela.

Criteria

Khone Falls in Laos
Khone Falls in Laos / , Flickr CC-BY-2.0

Waterfalls and rapids are any sections of rivers where the elevation is changing more or less abruptly. This allows for wide interpretations. Sometimes there are attempts to represent 10 kilometers long rapids as a single waterfall.

The minimum size of a waterfall (especially – height) is subject to the local traditions of each separate country. A 2 metre high waterfall is considered to be an attractive curiosity in lowland countries, while, for example, in Norway such falls in general are not much noticed.

This website includes outstanding waterfalls and rapids of the world: each of them well exceeds the minimum requirements of a true waterfall.

Some statistics

No single waterfall is the largest waterfall in the world, because no waterfall is greater in all dimensions at once.

The highest falls in the world are the Angel Falls in Bolivar, Venezuela. 979 meters high, their tallest single drop is 807 meters.

The widest falls in the world are the Khone Falls in Ban Hang Khone, Laos, where the Mekong River becomes 10.8 kilometers wide. Some data even gives a width of 14 kilometers to these falls.

Gaping Ghyll with falls, United Kingdom
Gaping Ghyll with falls, United Kingdom / , Flickr / CC BY 2.0

The most powerful falls in the world are most likely the Inga Falls in Bas-Congo, Congo, but these are actually rapids. Before reaching its mouth the enormous Congo River leaps over 32 large rapids – Livingstone Falls and the largest ones of these are Inga Falls. River near these falls exceeds a depth of 230 m.

The largest curtain of falling water is created by Victoria Falls in Zambia/ Zimbabwe. The falls are 80 – 108 meters high and approximately 1708 – 1737 meters wide the area of the water curtain covering up to 55 ha.

Very tall underground waterfall is the Gaping Ghyll in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. This fall of the Fell Beck stream is 105 – 110 meters high. But in Vrtiglavica cave (Slovenian Littoral, Slovenia) is approximately 400 – 440 m tall waterfall!

Wondermondo has the following articles about waterfalls:

 

WorldViolet Top 25 waterfalls

Africa

Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)

Zambia, Zimbabwe

World’s largest curtain of falling water, 1,708 meters wide and 108 meters high waterfall. One of the most impressive natural sights in the world.

Part of the largest screen of falling water in the world - Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls)
Part of the largest screen of falling water in the world – Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) / Valentina Buj, / CC BY-SA 2.0
Tugela Falls

South Africa

The second tallest waterfall in the world. Total height of 948 meters and the largest single drop of 411 meters, and a river width of 3-15 meters.

Tugela Falls, upper drop (182 m), South Africa
Tugela Falls, upper drop (182 m) / Andynct, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Trou de Fer canyon and waterfalls

Réunion (France)

Several cascades of streams in Trou de Fer – one of the most magnificent slot canyons in the world. The total height of Bras de Caverne Falls is 725 m, the first step is 210 m high (mostly dry), the next – 180 m high, and the third – 300 m, several smaller steps in between. There are six more very tall waterfalls in the canyon. Lower Bras Mazerin fall is 270 m tall.

View from above. The tallest - 300 m step of Bras de Caverne in the upper middle part, 270 m tall fall of Bras Mazerin in lower left corner
View from above. The tallest – 300 m step of Bras de Caverne in the upper middle part, 270 m tall fall of Bras Mazerin in the lower left corner. "Washing Machine" is the sharp corner of the canyon in the central – right side of image / jennifer_greatoutdoors, / CC BY-SA 2.0

Antarctica and Subantarctic islands

Airdevronsix icefall

Antarctica

Giant, approximately 5 km wide and 400 m tall icefall.

The fantastic Airdevronsix icefall from 17.5 km distance, Antarctica
The fantastic Airdevronsix icefall from 17.5 km distance! Warren icefall is seen in the left side / P.Wright, US Geological Survey, public domain
Blood Falls

Antarctica

Unusual natural feature – an outflow of hypersaline water, seeping through the ice, tainted with iron oxides in blood color. This approximately 15 m tall fall provides insight into a unique ecosystem that has been isolated from the outside world for 1.5 million years.

Blood Falls from above, Antarctica
Blood Falls from above / Peter Rejcek, National Science Foundation (United States Antarctic Program), public domain

Asia

Jiuzhai Valley (Jiuzhaigou)

China

Valley with impressive tufa formations – terraces, waterfalls, and deep blue-green lakes. Includes the impressive, 40 m tall and 162.5 m wide Pearl Shoal Waterfall and beautiful, 20 m tall and 320 m wide Nuorilang Falls that are also falling over tufa formations. Here are also Shu Zheng Lakes – 19 lakes divided by tufa walls and Nuorilang Lakes – a group of 18 such dammed lakes. Especially beautiful is Fairy Pool – a group of impressive tufa terraces.

Nohkalikai Falls

India

This is a beautiful 335 meters high plunge over a giant, overhanging cliff, almost directly into a lake.

335 m tall Nohkalikai Falls falling from Cherrapunji plateau are fed just by 2 km long stream. Without heavy rains it would be much smaller
335 m tall Nohkalikai Falls falling from Cherrapunji plateau are fed just by 2 km long stream. Without heavy rains it would be much smaller / , Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Jog Falls (Gersoppa Falls)

India

The most impressive waterfall in India – Sharavati River here falls 253 meters. The width of the waterfall reaches 580 m during the monsoons – then it is one of the world’s most impressive waterfalls.

Jog Falls, India
Jog Falls, India / Jughead i, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Europe

Plitvice Lakes

Croatia

A unique, picturesque group of some 20 blue-green lakes arranged in a chain over the distance of 8 km, divided by natural dams of tufa. The tufa formation process is active, it forms by joint geological and biological processes. The stream between the lakes has multiple waterfalls, some up to 80 m tall.

Plitvice Lakes in Croatia
Plitvice Lakes in Croatia / Bart Dubelaar, / SA BY-SA 2.0
Gullfoss

Iceland

One of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland and worldwide. Consists of two steps (11 m and 21 m tall), located at a right angle to each other.

Gullfoss, Iceland
Gullfoss / WoSie, Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-2.5.
Dettifoss

Iceland

Magnificent waterfall, considered to be the most powerful in Europe. Falls are 45 m tall, and 100 m wide, with a single plunge. Average water flow – 193 m²/s. A bit upstream there is another giant waterfall – Selfoss. This waterfall is 11 m high, but it is very wide – the stream has shaped a long V-shaped cliff and water is falling down along more than 500 m long cliffs. Downstream from Dettifoss is Hafragilsfoss – 27 m tall and 91 m wide.

Dettifoss
Dettifoss./ Marco Nürnberger, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Svartifoss

Iceland

Unique waterfall – free falling, more than 20 m tall plunge in a valley adorned with basalt columns.

Svartifoss
Svartifoss. / LeCardinal, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Vrtiglavica

Slovenia

643 m deep cave that contains the deepest pitch (single vertical drop) in the world (603 meters). 400 – 440 m tall waterfall inside. Possibly the tallest underground waterfall in the world.

Cross section of Vrtiglavica cave with waterfall, Slovenia
Cross section of Vrtiglavica cave with waterfall. Note that the scale is distorted – lower part is "squeezed" / Gatis Pāvils, basing on measurements of JDD Koper and other speleologists, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Hraunfossar

Iceland

A very unusual, 900 meters wide waterfall. It emerges from under a lava field and falls directly into the Hvítá river.

Hraunfossar
Hraunfossar. / Daniel Knieper, Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

North America

Niagara Falls

Canada, United States

The most popular waterfall in the world is 51 meters high and 1203 meters wide. The shape of the waterfall and its proportions have become somewhat synonymous with the word “waterfall”.

Niagara Falls in Canada / United States
Niagara Falls in Canada / United States / Photo by IDuke, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-2.5
Virginia Falls (Naili Cho)

Canada

Last primeval large waterfall in North America. Here the powerful South Nahanni falls 90 meters, the width of the falls reaches 259 m. Some 120 m tall spire of rock – Mason’s Rock – stands in the middle of the falls.

Virginia Falls, Canada
Virginia Falls / Paul Gierszewski, Wikimedia Commons / public domain
Yosemite Falls

United States

These falls are 739 meters high, have 7 drops, and are some 28 meters wide. One of the most visited waterfalls in the world. The tallest plunge is 436 m tall.

Yosemite Falls, Upper Fall
Yosemite Falls, Upper Fall / Melissa Wiese, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Helmcken Falls

Canada

Beautiful, powerful waterfall with a 141 m high vertical plunge. Average width – 15 meters.

Helmcken Falls - lower cascade is seen
Helmcken Falls – lower cascade is seen / Kantokano, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Semuc Champey

Guatemala

Tufa terraces over a 300 m long section of Cahabòn River, forming a group of small, emerald-colored pools. These pools are in a deep, dangerous canyon and end with a cave, where the river disappears.

Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey. / Esmée Winnubst, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Brooks Falls

United States

Some 1.8-2 m tall and approximately 80 – 100 m wide waterfall that is world-famous thanks to a large group of brown bears catching salmon and other fish. Sometimes up to 50 bears can be seen on this waterfall.

Brooks Falls with bears, Alaska
Brooks Falls with bears / Mila Zinkova, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

South America

Iguazu Falls (Salto de Iguaçu)

Argentina, Brazil

One of the most enormous and impressive waterfalls in the world, they are "only" 82 meters tall, but 2,700 meters wide.

Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls / Nico Kaiser, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Angel Falls

Venezuela

This is the tallest and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, with a total height of 979 meters. It has the highest single drop (807 meters) in the world.

Angel Falls, Venezuela
Angel Falls / , Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Kaieteur Falls

Guyana

One of the most spectacular and powerful waterfalls in the world, combining a very high volume of water and a large height of fall. 226 m high free fall on Potaro River, total height – 251 m, volume up to 660 cubic meters per second.

Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
Kaieteur Falls, Guyana / , Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Ventisquero Colgante Falls

Chile

One of the highest waterfalls in Chile and possibly – one of the most beautiful waterfalls worldwide. The water originates from the base of Ventisquero Colgante glacier and falls more than 350 m high with a single plunge. This is a rare sight: above this giant waterfall towers a wall of blue glaciers.

Ventisquero Colgante Falls, Chile
Ventisquero Colgante Falls / betoscopio, / CC BY-SA 2.0
Kukenaam Falls (Cuquenan Falls)

Venezuela

With 674 meters in height and 61 meters in width plunging from the rim of a tepui, this fall is similar in many respects to the world’s tallest waterfall – Angel Falls.

Kukenaam Falls in Venezuela
Kukenaam Falls in Venezuela / J.Falcon, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

WorldYellow Recommended books

Waterfalls and Rapids


An examination of waterfalls and rapids, and how they shape the earth. There are photographs capturing the dramatic forces of nature and the text is non-scientific and filled with facts.

Waterfall: Nature and Culture


While waterfalls have often been considered in terms of their picturesque qualities, their rich cultural background has been neglected. In Waterfall, Brian Hudson portrays these marvels in a new light. He explores the many myths and legends waterfalls have inspired in cultures ranging from Native American to Celtic and Indian, and how they have been depicted in art, literature, film, and music.


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